My First Paid Art Gig: A Music Video, a Big Lesson, and a Lot of Stress

My first real paid art gig dates back to my film school days when I wrote and directed a music video for the band Lazaro’s Dog. The song was Jeffery, and it was the early 2000s—a time when cinematic music videos were really starting to take off. Bands like Radiohead were pushing the boundaries of what a music clip could be, and I was eager to follow suit.

The Big Opportunity (and No Paycheck for Me)

I got the green light from both the band and the record label, with a budget of about $5,000 to shoot a three-minute clip. Sounds great, right? Except that money was entirely eaten up by crew costs, equipment rental, and production expenses. I was directing the project unpaid, despite being completely broke. But I saw this as my big break—a chance to prove myself in the industry.

The Script, The Shoot, and The Missing Band

I wrote a script that the band and label approved. We shot the video, and I was happy with how it turned out. The story was visually engaging, it had the cinematic feel I was going for, and we delivered a rough cut to the record label.

Then came the big, big, big question from the label:

“Where is the band?”

What? They were in it! They had roles in the storyline.

“No, no—we need to see them playing instruments.”

Wait. What? Had they even read the script? This wasn’t a performance-based video. It was a narrative-driven piece. But none of that mattered. The label wanted a traditional band performance added in.

Over-Communicating is Key

This was a massive lesson in communication. Just because you have approval on a creative idea doesn’t mean everyone is on the same page. When you’re working on a commissioned art piece—whether it’s a painting, an illustration, or a music video—you can’t just communicate. You have to over-communicate. Make sure every expectation is spelled out in big, bold, flashing neon lights.

The Aftermath: A Second Shoot, More Costs, More Stress

So, with zero budget left, I had to pull favors, call in every debt, and scrape together enough resources for another shoot day. This time, it was all about the band performing. We got the footage, edited it into the video, and delivered what the label wanted.

The Takeaway: Fun, Frustrating, and Devastating

Was it still fun? Yes. Did I learn a lot? Absolutely. But as a literally starving artist at the time, this mistake was devastating. It reinforced a hard truth about creative work:

Passion alone won’t pay the bills.

That experience taught me the importance of clear communication, protecting my time and energy, and making sure that if I’m putting in the work, I’m also getting paid. It was a tough lesson, but one that shaped how I approach creative projects to this day.